2019-2020 Young Lawyers Division Board Information

Application Process for the 2019-2020 Leadership Positions

The mission of the Tennessee Bar Association Young Lawyers Division, as the state organization of young lawyers, is to provide leadership in serving the public and the profession and to promote excellence and fulfillment in the practice of law.

Dear Tennessee Young Lawyer:

I am excited to serve as the president of the Tennessee Bar Association Young Lawyers Division (YLD) for the 2019–2020 bar year. The YLD has been in the vanguard of service to Tennessee’s legal community for nearly 100 years. During that time, we have served the community and the bar association. We are proud of programs like the Diversity Leadership Institute that has trained the emerging leaders in Tennessee’s legal community while garnering national attention and awards. Our high school mock trial competition—now in its 39th year—has consistently incubated nationally competitive teams, including two national championship- winning teams. The YLD has made service its mission.

The TBA YLD is governed by a board of elected officers. Additionally, there are several other positions the president appoints to serve during the bar year. If you are interested in running for one of the officer positions, you should familiarize yourself with that process here. The application process below is only for individuals interested in serving in an appointed position. To be eligible to submit an application, you must be 36 or younger on June 14, 2019, or be in the first five years of your practice. Additionally, you must either be a member of the TBA, or become a member of the TBA by February 28, 2019 (the date on which the application process will close).

In the coming year, I will ask all the members of the YLD board to double down in our commitment to being the standard bearer in Tennessee when it comes to professional leadership. We will focus on initiatives that promote lawyer well-being, while at the same time using our talents to benefit Tennesseans through our complement of service-based initiatives. We will work to modernize our approach to communication with our members and the public, and we will expand our discussions to address broad issues of public policy and substantive legal issues. Below, you will find a list of positions for the 2019–2020 YLD board. While prior service on the YLD board is not a prerequisite to your application, I do expect all the leaders who ultimately populate the board to gain institutional knowledge of the YLD and its prior work, as well as demonstrate self-motivation and initiative. I want all board members to come to the spring planning meeting with a solid foundation to begin a busy year. I encourage you to spend time researching the position for which you are applying, including prior projects, and I also encourage you to reach out to current board members with questions. Current board members may be found here. Of course, I am always happy to chat with you, and you may reach me at tweston@eblaw.us.

This year, we will have five in-person meetings at which your attendance will be mandatory. Those meetings are:

Spring Planning Meeting, April 26–27, 2019 in Abingdon, Virginia

YLD Annual Meeting, June 14–15, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee

YLD Fall Meeting, the week of October 13 or 20, 2019. Precise dates and location will be announced in Spring 2019,

TBA Leadership Conference, January 2020. This meeting will be held in conjunction with the TBA’s Leadership Conference. The dates of that conference will announced later in 2019.

YLD High School Mock Trial Competition, March 20–21, 2020 in Nashville, Tennessee.

As a member of the board, you will be eligible to be reimbursed for expenses relating to your attendance at these meetings subject to the TBA reimbursement policy in effect at the time of the meeting. Additionally, throughout the year, you will be expected to participate in ad hoc conference calls and virtual meetings to carry out your obligations. The position description document has specific time commitment expectations.

In reviewing applications, I will be looking for candidates who not only have demonstrated leadership experience, but also who are able to effectively communicate their background and motivation. Moreover, I am looking for individuals who have a coherent plan for the position(s) for which they apply. Again, prior experience is not necessary, but having intent and vision are. Lastly, you will see questions designed to get a feel for the personality you would bring to the board; I am interested in bringing a diverse and vibrant group of people together over the next year to tackle the central issues facing the legal industry in Tennessee, and I want to measure how you will fit both within your prospective role and as a member of the larger board.

Your decision to apply for a position on the YLD board recognizes your commitment to leadership and innovation within the practice of law. That is a commitment I appreciate. During my tenure on the YLD board, I have been privileged to work on initiatives that have made a difference in the community, but I have also had the matchless opportunity to meet people who have become close friends. I expect that your time on the board will generate the same boons for you. Thank you for making service within the practice a priority.

Best wishes,

Troy S. Weston,

2019–2020 YLD President

Below is more information about the 2019-2020 YLD Board composition and application. You must read all documents below before proceeding to complete an application.